Shooting Star — Fredrick McKissack Jr.

He wants to be the real deal...now.

Jomo Rodgers finished his first year on varsity hearing "if onlys," as in, if only he were bigger.

His talent on the field is easy to spot, and local papers and college recruiters are taking notice. But with his best friend on speed dial for recruiters at big-time college programs, and treated like a king at football-crazy Cranmer Academy, Jomo decides he wants to be more than merely good, he wants to be the real deal...now.

Taking his coach's lecture about commitment to heart, Jomo plunges into a new workout regimen that will make him stronger and faster. But is that enough? A little juice -- as in steroids -- might be the difference between being good and being great. It's an easy choice...that is about to make his life a whole lot harder.